1. EC Legislation Framework

The EU directives and regulations cover three areas: control of industrial emissions, control of major accident hazards, and environmental audits and eco-labelling [1]; Figure 1 and Figure 2 give a quick overview of the directives.

2. EC Regulations, Directives and Decisions

The main Council regulations, directives and decisions concerning air pollution are listed below; based on [2]. Further information on European legislation can be found on the official European Union homepage “The portal to European Union law”, http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/index.html. On this site any of the following list of documents can be traced with details of where the full document maybe traced, communication data and details of any associated costs.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 70/220/EEC of March 1970 on the approximation of the laws of Member States on measures against air pollution by gases from positive ignition engines of motor vehicles.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 72/306/EEC of 2 August 1972 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 74/290/EEC of 28 May adapting to technical progress Council Directive 70/220/EEC.

COUNCIL DECISION 75/406/Euratom of 26 June 1975 adopting a programme on the management and storage of radioactive waste.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 75/716/EEC of 24 November 1975 on the approximation of the laws of the Members States relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 76/579/Euratom of 1 June 1976 laying down revised basic safety standards for the health protection of the general public and workers against the dangers of ionising radiation.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 77/102/EEC of 30 November 1976 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 70/220/EEC.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 77/537/EEC of 30 December 1978 establishing measures against the emission of pollutants from diesel engines for use in wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors.

COUNCIL REGULATION of 30 May 1978 on fluorocarbons in the environment.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 78/611/EEC of 29 June 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the lead content of petrol.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 78/665/EEC of 30 November 1976 adapting technical progress Council Directive 70/220/EEC.

COUNCIL DECISION 80/237/Euratom of 18 February 1980 on the setting up of an Ôad hoc Advisory Committee on the Reprocessing of Irradiated Nuclear Fuels.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 80/382/EEC of 26 March 1980 concerning chlorofluorocarbons in the environment.

COUNCIL DECISION 80/779/EEC of 15 July 1980 on air quality limit values and guide values for sulphur dioxide and suspended particulates.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 80/836/Euratom of 15 July 1980 amending Directive 76/579/Euratom.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 80/1268/EEC of 16 December 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the fuel consumption of motor vehicles.

COUNCIL DECISION 81/462/EEC of 11 June on the conclusion of the Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution.

COUNCIL DECISION 82/459/EEC of 24 June 1982 establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring air pollution within the Member States.

COUNCIL DECISION 82/795/EEC on 15 November 1982 on the consolidation of precautionary measures concerning chlorofluorocarbons in the environment.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 82/884/EEC of 3 December 1982 on a limit value for lead in the air.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 83/351/EEC of 16 June 1983.

Directive 84/466 Euratom of 3 September 1984 set down basic measures for the radiation protection of persons undergoing medical examination or treatment.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 84/360/EEC of 28 June 1984 on combating air pollution from industrial plants.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 85/203/EEC of 7 March 1985 on air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 85/210/EEC of 20 March 1985 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the lead content in petrol.

COUNCIL DECISION 86/277/EEC of 12 June 1986 on the conclusion of the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution on long-term financing of the cooperative programme for monitoring and evaluation of the long-range transmission of air pollutants in Europe (EMEP).

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 3528/86 of 17 November 1996 on the protection of the Community s forests against atmospheric pollution.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 1696/87 of 10 June 1987 laying down certain detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation 3528/96 of 17 November 1996 on the protection of the Community s forests against atmospheric pollution.

COUNCIL DECISION 87/600/Euratom of 14 December 1987, on arrangements for the early exchange of information in the event of a radiological emergency.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 87/217/EEC of 30 December 1988 on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 87/219/EEC of 30 March 1987 amending Directive 75/716/EEC on the approximation of the laws of Member States regarding the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 87/416/EEC of 21 July 1987 amending Directive 85/210/EEC which was introduced to reduce the numbers of different types of petrol available on the market, thereby encouraging the availability of balanced and distribution of unleaded petrol.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 88/76/EEC of 3 December 1987 amending Directive 70/220/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against air pollution from the engines of motor vehicles.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 88/77/EEC of 3 December 1987 relating to measures to be taken against emissions of gaseous pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 88/436/EEC of 16 June 1983 amending Directive 70/220/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles (Restriction of particulate pollutant emissions from diesel engines).

COUNCIL DECISION 88/540/EEC of 14 October 1988 concerning the conclusion of the Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 88/609/EEC of 8 June 1988 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants.

COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 14 October 1988, for the limitation of the use of chlorofluorocarbons and halons.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No. 3322/88 of 14 October 1988 on certain chlorofluorocarbons which deplete the ozone layer.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 89/369/EEC of 8 June on the prevention of air pollution from new municipal waste incineration plants.

COUNCIL REGULATION of 21 June 1989 on the greenhouse effect and the Community.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 89/429/EEC of 21 June 1989 on the reduction of air pollution from existing municipal waste incineration plants.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 89/458/EEC on 18 July 1988 amending with regard to European emission standards for cars below 1.4 litres, Directive 70/220/EEC.

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 89/491/EEC of 17 July 1989 adapting to technical progress Council Directives 70/157/EEC, 70/220/EEC, 72/245/EEC, 72/306/EEC, 80/1268/EEC and 80/1269/EEC relating to motor vehicles.

90/437/EEC COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION of 27 June 1990 on the reduction of chlorofluorocarbons used by the Community s foam plastics industry.

90/438/EEC COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION of 27 June 1990 on the reduction of chlorofluorocarbons used by the Community s refrigeration industry.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 91/441/EEC of 26 June 1991 regulating tailpipe and evaporate emissions from passenger vehicles with a maximum capacity of six passengers and maximum mass of 2,500kg.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 91/542/EEC of 1 October 1991 amending Directive 88/77/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles.

COUNCIL REGULATION EEC/594/91 of 4 March 1991 on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/72/EEC (4 April 1994) for prevention of air pollution by ozone.

COMMISSION REGULATION (EEC) No 880/92 establishing ecological criteria for the award of the Community eco-label to specified categories of products.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 93/12/EEC of 23 March 1993 relating to the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels.

COUNCIL DECISION 93/389/EEC of 24 June 1993 for a monitoring mechanism of Community CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions.

DIRECTIVE 93/59/EEC on the approximation of laws of the Member States regarding measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 93/76/EEC of 13 September 1993 to limit carbon dioxide emissions by improving energy efficiency (SAVE).

COMMISSION DECISION 94/84/EC, of 4 February 1994 allocating import quotas for fully the halogenated chlorofluorocarbons 11, 12, 113, 114 and 115, the other fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride and 1,1,1,trichloroethane for the period 1 January to 31 December 1994.

DIRECTIVE 94/12/EC of the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT and the COUNCIL of 23 March 1994 relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and amending Directive 70/220/EEC.

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) no 1091/94 of 29 April 1994 laying down certain detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3528/86 on the protection of the EU s forests against atmospheric pollution.

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 3093/94 of 15 December 1994 on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 94/63/EC of 20 December 1994 on the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 94/66/EC on the limitation of emissions of sulphur dioxide from large combustion plants.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 94/67/EC on the incineration of hazardous waste.

COMMISSION DECISION 94/827/EC of 20 December 1994 on the allocation of quantities of controlled substances allowed for essential uses under Council Regulation (EC) No 3093/94 on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

COUNCIL DECISION 95/286 of 17 July 1995 modifying Commission Decision 94/827/EC of 20 December 1994 on the allocation of quantities of controlled substances allowed for essential uses for 1995, under Council Regulation (EC) No 3093/94 on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

COMMISSION DECISION 95/324/EC of 26 July, 1995 on the quantities of controlled substances allowed for essential uses in the Community in 1996 under Council Regulation (EC) No 3093/94 on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

COMMISSION DECISION 95/555/EC of 20 December 1995 on the allocation of quantities of controlled substances allowed for essential uses in the Community in 1996 under Council Regulation (EC) No. 3093/94 on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

DIRECTIVE 96/1/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 January, 1996 amending Directive 88/77/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles.

CORRIGENDUM TO DIRECTIVE 96/69/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 October 1996 amending Directive 70/220/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles (OJ No L 282 of 1.11.1996).

COMMISSION DECISION 96/261/EC of 23 February 1996 allocating import quotas for the fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons, halons, carbon tetrachloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and hydrobromofluorocarbons for the period 1 January to 31 December 1996. In addition allocating production and import quotas for methyl bromide for the period 1 January to 31 December 1996.

COMMISSION DECISION 96/551/EC of 29 July 1996 concerning the questionnaires provided for in Council Directives 80/779/EEC, 982/884/EEC, 84/360/EEC and 85/203/EEC (Text with EEA relevance).

COMMISSION DECISION 96/604/EC of 8 October 1996 allocating quotas for the placing on the market in the Community for hydrochlorofluorocarbons for the period 1 January to 31 December 1996 (German, Greek, English, French, Italian and Dutch texts only are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance).

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 96/44/EC of 1 July 1996 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 70/220/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles (Text with EEA relevance).

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 96/61/EC of 24 September 1996 establishing the framework for integrated pollution prevention and control in major industrial installations.

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 96/62/EC of 27 September 1996 on ambient air quality assessment and management.

COUNCIL DECISION 97/101/EC of 27 January 1997 establishing a reciprocal exchange of information and data from networks and individual stations measuring ambient air pollution within the Member States.

COMMISSION DECISION 97/283/EC of 21 April 1997 on harmonised measurement methods to determine the mass concentration of dioxins and furans in atmospheric emissions in accordance with Article 7(2) of Directive 94/67/EC on the incineration of hazardous waste.

COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 97/20/EC of 18 April 1997 adapting to technical progress Council Directive 72/306/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles.

 

  Figure 1: Air Quality Framework    

Figure 2: Industrial Pollution Control and Risk Management

EU abbreviations:

EC European Community (Acronym use at that time, not to be confused with the present usage EC = European Commission)
EEC European Economic Community
EU European Union
LCP Large Combustion Plants

Source:

[1] Homepage of Environmental Software and Services (ESS), http://www.ess.co.at/
[2] EU Environmental Information and Legislation Database. http://kola.dcu.ie/~environ/welcome.htm